Wire rope union



NOV. 15, 1949 SQWLES 2,488,247

j, V NNNNNN OR Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4Claims.

This invention relates to wire rope unions and while capable of avariety of uses is of particular utility in the formation of cablebuttons such as are used in wire rope conveyors and in many otherapplications.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple but strong andimproved union in which the ends of two cables are embedded in a body ofmetal, the invention being illustrated in a preferred form in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a sleeve member appropriate forthe purposes below described, the section being on the line I-I of Fig.2;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but with the cable ends inposition within the sleeve member.

In the preferred form illustrated, the union employs a sleeve member I,having end openings 2, 3 to receive the ends of cable lengths 4, 5 to beunited within the sleeve member. The outer contour of the latter, inthis instance, is shown as appropriate for use as a cable button but, ofcourse, the shape will be determined by the use intended. The interiorof the sleeve member consists of a cavity 6 of circular section and moreor less hour-glass shaped, that is, it has a central section of aminimum diameter and is of progressively increasing diameter on eitherside of the minimum. In opposite walls of the cavity are providedopenings I, 8 (Fig. 2).

In forming the union, or cable button, the strands composing the cableends are separated and cleaned and the usual hemp center removed. Thebunches of strands are then inserted into the sleeve member fromopposite ends. By means of a splicing needle or other appropriate toolapplied through the opening 1 or 8, the strands are sufiiciently openedup or splayed out to permit the two groups to be advanced toward eachother in such fashion as to interlace or intermesh, and the cable endsare inserted far enough to bring the respective strand endssubstantially beyond the minimum diameter section of the sleeve member.As will be understood, the movement of the groups of interlaced strandstoward one another will itself tend to splay them out so that they takeup positions as indicated diagrammatically at 4, 5' in Fig. 3.

One of the openings 1, 8 is then plugged, as with refractory cement; andmolten metal, such as zinc, is poured in through the other opening tofill the cavity in the sleeve member. Suitable vent holes (not shown)may be provided to ensure the complete fillin of the cavity.

When the poured metal solidifies, it forms an hour-glas shaped plug inthe opposite ends of which the strands of the cable ends are securelyembedded. And, due to the necked-in form of the cast metal body, thesleeve member is firmly interlocked with it. An extremely strong unionis thus formed.

In the light of the foregoing description of the preferred form of theinvention, the following is claimed:

1. A wire rope union comprising a sleeve member having end openings toreceive the ends of two wire ropes, and a cavity of circular sectionextending between the openings, the said cavity having a central sectionof minimum diameter and being of progressively increasing diameter oneach side of said minimum, a wall of the cavity having a filler openingfor molten metal, cable ends inserted through the respective endopenings, said cable ends being splayed out and the strands of the twoends interlaced in overlapping relation lengthwise Of the sleeve memberto an extent sufiicient to locate the free end of each group of strandssubstantially beyond the minimum diameter section of the cavity, saidcavity being substantially filled with solidified metal forming anhour-glass shaped plug in the ends of which, remote from their point ofentry, are embedded the splayed out strands of the respective ropes.

2. A wire rope union comprising a solid body of metal having a neckportion uniting two enlarged end-portions, wire rope ends embedded inthe metal, the rope ends entering the body through the respective endportions thereof and passing through the neck portion with the strandsof one rope end splayed out and interlaced with splayed out strands ofthe other rope end, and a metallic sleeve member enclosing said body,the interior of the sleeve substantially conformin to the shape of thebody of metal.

3. A wire rope union comprising a body of metal having a neck portionuniting two enlarged end-portions, wire rope ends embedded in the metal,the rope ends entering the body through the respective end portionsthereof and passing through the neck portion with the strands of onerope end splayed out and interlaced with splayed out strands of theother rope end, and a sleeve member enclosing said body, and interlockedwith, the neck portion thereof.

4. A wire rope union comprising a sleeve member having a pair of endopenings to receive a pair of wire ropes, said sleeve member having a,cavity extending between said openings comprising a central neck portionand an enlarged portion on each side of the neck portion, a wall of thecavity having a filler openin for molten metal, ropes extending throughthe respective end openings and through the neck portion so that the endof each rope rests in the enlarged cavity portion remote from therespective end opening for the rope, said rope ends being splayed out,and said cavity being substantially filled with solidified metal inwhich the splayed out rope ends are embedded. LAWRENCE P. SOWLES.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

